Driving mechanism for valves and other devices



C. W.'KUHN Nov. 22, 1932.

DRIVING MECHANISM FOR VALVES AND OTHER DEVICES Filed Dec. 17. 1927 2Sheets-Sheet 1 v INVENTOR. acme/m 12mm A TTORNEY.

N OV. 22, 1932. c, w, U 1,888,274

DRIVING MECHANISM FOR VALVES AND OTHER DEVICES Filed Dec. 17. 1927 2Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

Patented Nov. 22, 1932 UNITED STATES IPATENT OFFICE CLARENCE "W. KUHN,OF MILWAUKEE,WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOB, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS,

1'0 CUTLER-HAMMER INC., 01 MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, A :UORPORATION OF DELA-LDRIVING MECHANISM FOR vanvm AND OTHER DEVICES Application filedDecember 17, 1927. Eel-lei No. 240,888.

This invention relates to driving mechanisms for valves and otherdevices.

The invention has among its objects to provide a motor driven valveoperating mechanism of improved construction which insures tight seatingof the valve without-dannor of damaging the seating surfaces thereof dueto inertia of the moving parts added to the torque-oi the motor at theend of travel.

Another ohject is to provide a valve open sting mechanism of theaforesaid character which provides a predetermined operating 'force forseating of the valve and which also provides sufficient operating forceto eiiect unseating; oi the valve without imposing errcessive strainsupon the motor.

Another object is to provide a valve operating mechanism of theaforesaid character having" improved means associated therewith forcontrolling the driving motor to provide for efficient reliableoperation of the mechanism.

Another object is to provide a motor driven valve operating mechanismhaving improved means associated therewith for timing interruption oithe power connections for the motor upon movement of the operatingmechanism into its closed position.

Various other objects and advantages oi the invention will hereinafterappear.

The accompanying drawings illustrate an embodiment of the inventionwhich will now he descrihed. it being understood that the mechanismillustrated may he modified in numerous respects without departing fromthe spirit and scope of the appended claims.

in the drawings,

Figure l is a sectional view of a valve operating mechanism embodyingthe invention. I

Figs. 2 and 3 are sectional views taken substantiallv on lines 2-2 and3-3, respectively, of Fig. l. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the limit switchmechanism, the cover therefor being shown in section. and

Fig. 5 'is a diagrammatic view of a control system forthe mechanism.

H Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the same illus.- trnte a driving mechanismincluding a-driven shaft 1, a driving member 2., a planetary speedreducing gear 8 for establishing a driving connection between said shaftand said member and a motor eloperatively connected to the drivingmember 2 through the me dium of a worm wheel 5, a cooperating worm 6,11slip clutch and a jaw coupling 8. These parts are all mounted within anenclosing casing 9 and the motor 4 is provided with a housing which isfixed to said casing.

The driven shaft 1 is rotatable within ahearing 10 in casing 9 "and thesame has a shaft extension ll fixed thereto upon which the driving;member 2 is rotatably mounted. Worm wheel 5 is keyed to the drivingmemher 2, while the worm 6 is provided with integral shaft extensions 6and '6' on opposite sides thereoi which are supported by suitable hallhearings 13-43. The planetary gear 3 includes a pinion 3 formed on thedriving; member 2, a plurality oi pinions 3 carried hy oppositelyprojecting arms 14 on the driven shaft 1 and an internally toothed ringgear 3", pinions 3' being arranged between and in mesh with the pinion3" and the ring gear 3. Ring gear 3 is revolubly mounted. in a hearing15 on the interior of casino; 9 (Fig. 1), and it is apparent thatrestraint of said ring gear renders the planetary gear effective as adriving connection between the driving member 2 and driven shaft 1,whereas release of said ring gear will permit rotation thereof forrelease of said driving member from said driven shaft.

The means employed for restraining the ring gear 3 includes a pin 17slidably mounted within a bored projection 18 on one sideof theenclosing casing 9 (Fig. 3). Pin 17 is. biased to engage the ring gear 3by a spring 19, and the same is adapted to project into a. channel 20 inthe periphery of the ring gear 3. As best shown in 'g. 3, the channel 20extends only partially around the ring gear 3 and the end walls of saidchannel are adapted to cooperate with the pin 17 to permit rotation ofsaid ring gear through an angle of substantially 180 degrees uponstarting of motor 4 in opposite directions. Thus a 10st motionconnection is provided which enables the motor to accelerate withpractically no'load and to acquire sufiicient momentum to initiate theoperation of shaft 1 with a hammer like blow through sudden arrest ofthe ring gear 3.

The pin 17 is provided with means for withdrawing the same from channel20, said means comprising a handle 21 fixed to said pin and having aV-shaped projection 22 thereon which cooperates with a y-shaped recessinthe outer face of projection 18. By locatin handle 21 so that theprojection 22 ,thereo is seated within the coo 'erating rehand wheel.

As before stated, the driving connections between the motor 4 and thedriving member 2 include a slip clutch 7 and a jaw coupling 8. Theseparts are housed within a hollow cylindrical extension 23 on theenclosing casing 9 The left hand end of extension 23 is closed by agland 24 having-a packing which is held under compression by a spring 25and the outer end of said extension is provided with a flange to whichthe motor 4 is secured. As best shown in Fig. 2, the slip clutch 7includes cooperating disk members 7 and 7", the former being keyed tothe shaft extension 6 of worm 6, and being free to slide thereon and thelatter being rotatably mounted upon a shaft 26. Shaft 26 is fixedto theend of shaft extension 6 and for purposes hereinafter set forth the sameis con' structed of non-magnetic material. Shaft 26 has a thrust collar27 fixed to the end thereof for limiting movement'of slip clutch member7 towards the right v(Fig. 2), and the slip clutch member 7 a is held inengagement with the slip clutch member 7 by a coil spring 28. Spring 28is held under compression between the slip clutch member 7 and a collar29 which abuts a shoulder on the shaft extension 6". The jaw coupling 8hereinbefore referred to comprises jaw parts 8 which are formed on theslip clutch member 7 b and a cooperating jaw member 8 which is fixed tothe shaft 4 of motor 4.

In connection with the foregoing it should be noted that the spring 28can be designed to permit slippage of the clutch parts 7 and 7 when thetorque transmitted therethrough exceeds a given value. In practice saidspring is designed to render the slip clutch 7 capable of transmittingsufficient torque to effect tight closure of the valve without danger ofdamaging the ,valve seats or producing excessive strains on the drivingmechanism.

On the othe hand, it should be noted that when the valveis in eitheropen or closed position the aforedescribed lost motion connectionenahles the motor 4 to act through the slip clutch 7 to impart ahammer-like blow to the valve to start the same out of such position. i

In some instances it is desirable to render "the slip clutch 7 capableof transmitting an upon suitable insulating spools which are supportedwithin the projection 23 of the enclosing casing 9. Said windings are soarranged that the magneto-motive forces thereof are in the samedirection and it will be noted that the flux produced thereby willextend inn closed loop through the projection 23 on the enclosing casingand through the slip clutch members 7 a and 7" to cause said slip clutchmembers to be attracted towards each other to increasethe frictiontherebetween. In order to obtain maximum effectiveness of said windingsthe flux produced thereby is con-- centrated adjacent the peripheries ofthe slip clutch members by undercutting the faces of said members toprovide an air gap 32 therebetween and by constructing the shaft 25 ofnon-magnetic material, as hereinbefore set forth.

The motor 4 is controlled by a limit switch mechanism 40 through themedium of apparatus which will be hereinafter described, while thewindings 30 and 31 are controlled by a switch mechanism 41. The switchmech- 1 anisms 40 and 41 are mtunted upon a plate 42 which is fixed tocasing 9 and said switch mechanisms are enclosed by a cover 43. Theswitch mechanisms 40 and 41 are provided with operating parts which willbe hereinafter more fully described, and said operating parts are drivenfrom the shaft extension 11 of driven shaft 1 through the medium of aspeed reducing gear 44.

The speed reducing gear 44 is of the epicyclic type, and as best shownin Fig. 1, the same includes spur gears 45 and 46 and pinions 47 and 48.Spur gear 45 is fixed to a plate49which is secured to lugs on theinterior of the enclosing casing 9, and spur gear 46 is fixed to a shaft50. Pinions 47 and 48 mesh with the spur gears 45 and 46, respectively,and said pinions are fixed to a pin 51 and are rotatably mounted withinvan opening in an arm 52 fixed to the shaft extension 11. The pitchdiameters of the several gears of the epicyclic train are such that uponrotation of arm' 52 with shaft 11 the pinions 47 and 48 cooperate withthe spur.

gears 45 and 46 to drive shaft 50 from shaft 11 at a greatly reducedspeed. Shaft 50 is bored to receive the end of shaft extension 11, andthe same extends" outwardly through a bearing 53 in plate 42. Bearing 53is provided with packing washers 53 which are held under compression bya spring 54.

The limit switch mechanism 40 is controlled by cams 55 and 56 which areformed of insulating material. Each of said cams comprises a circularcollar bored to receive shaft 50 and having a fiat face on the peripherythereof. Saul cams are loose on shaft 50 to permit an ular adjustmentthereof, and the same are a apted tobe clamped in their adjustedpositions against a shoulder on said shaft by a clamping nut 57. The cammembers 55 and56 cooperate with spring contact fingers 58 and 59,respectively, carried by an insulating base 61 which is secured to theplate 42, The contact fingers 58 and 5% each have one end fixed to thebase ill and the free end of each cooperates with a stationary contactfixed to said base" The contact fingers 58 and 59 are biased upwardly toopen position and each is adapted; to be closed by the circular part ofits cooperating cam and to open when engaged by the'flat face there of.As hereinafter set forth the cams 55 and 56 are set so that movement ofthe valve operating mechanism into one of itslimits effects opening ofcontact finger 58,.rwhile movement of said mechanism into its otherlimit effects opening of contact lino-er 59.,

The switch mechanism 4i. herein'oefore referred to is operated fromshaft 50* by means of a V- haped cam 65 which is formed of insulatingmaterial and coopera' s with movable contact 66, The contact 6 ismovable in opposite directions between two pairs of stationary contacts67 and 68 fired to an insulating base '59 mounted on plate #2. Thebridging contact 66 is provided with a pin projection 7 0 which extendsthrough an opening in the base 69 and the same is biased towards itsassociated cam operating element 65 by a spring 7 The arrangement issuch that a given movement of element 65 in a clockwise directionfrom-the position shown in Fig. 4 effects snap movement of the bridgingcontact 66 into engagement with the contacts 67 while return movement ofcam element efi'eets snap movement of said contact into engagement withthe set of stationary contacts 68 The cam element 65 is operativelyconnected to the shaft 50 through the medium of a slip clutch 75. Saidslip clutch ya t) includes a cone member 7 6 fixed to shaft 50 and acooperating member 77 having a cone opening therein for receivmg saidcone member. Cam element 65 is fixed to member 77- and the latter isheld in frictional engagement with the cone member by the spring 54hereinbefore referred to. Movement of member 77 in o posite directionsis limited by a projection 8 thereon which cooperates with shoulders ,79 and 80 on plate 42.

system illustrated a direct current series mo tor is shown. Motor 4 iscontrolled by a pair of double pole electromagnetic reversing switches81 and 82 and it is assumed that switch 81 established connections fromlines le -13 for operation of the motor in a direction to open the valvewhile switch tion of the motor in its valve closing direction. Theenergizing circuit of switch 51 is controlled by a normally closed pushbutton 83, a normally open push. but on 8 by the spring contact finger58 of the valve operating mechanism. Switch 82 is controlled by anelectroresponsive timing reay 85 which. is normally open and is provid lwith a dash pot for retarding opening movement thereof. Relay 85 iscontrolled by normally closed push button 83, a normally open oushbutton 86 and by the spring contact 5 er of the valve operatingmechanism SW cCl1S and 82 are provided with auxiliary contacts and 82*for shunting'push buttons 8 and 86 respectively and'saicl. switches arealso provided with auxiliary contacts 81 82 which serve as hereinafterset forth to control the slip clutch windings S0 it through the mediumof the switch mec' anism 41'; The control system further includes signallamps 88 and 89 which are controlled as hereinatter set forth toindicate the direction of operation of the motor The operation of thecontrol s stein will now be more fully described, Wit; the valve in openposition contact ringer 59 is closed and depression of push button 85establishes an energizing circuit for the timing relay 85 extending fromline L through the normally closed push button 83, through the contactfinger 59 to and through the operating winding 85 of said timing relayand thence through the push button 88 to line L In responding the timingrelay 85 establishes an energizing circuit for the operatingwinding ofreversing switch 82 extending from line D. through the normally closedpush button 83, through the contacts of said timing relay and thencethrough the operating winding 82' of said reversing switch and the pushbutton 86 to line L. In responding switch 82 connects the motor to linesLL", such connections being apparent from the drawings and requiringno'description and the same also maintains itself in closed posilishesconnections from said lines "lor operalit tion through closure of itsauxiliary contacts 82 which shunt the push button 86.

The motor now operates to close the valve and during initial operationthereof the ring gear 3 rotates to permit acceleration of the motor andis then arrested to initiate operation of the valve with a hammer-likeblow.

, motor 4 through the medium of slip clutch 7 or the motor can bedeenergized prior to closure of the valve to rovide for seating thereofby the inertia o the motor and the driving mechanism. However, it shouldbe noted that regardless of whether or not the valve is closed by eitherof the above described methods the slip clutch 7 serves to limit thedriving force which is transmitted from the motor to the valve.

Assuming now that the valve is in closed position, contact finger 58 isin closed position and depression of push button 84 establishes anenergizing circuit for the reversing switch 81 extending from line Lthrough push button 83, through contact finger 58 of the valve operatingmechanism and thence through the operating winding 81" of said reversingswitch and push button 84 to line L. In responding switch 81 connectsmotor 4 to'lines L L such. connections being apparent from the drawingsand requiring no description, and the auxiliary contacts 81 shunt pushbutton 84 to establish a maintaining circuit for said switch. Duringinitial operation of the motor in its valve opening direction the ringgear 3 first rotates to permit acceleration of the motor and is thenarrested to initiate operation of the 'valve with a hammer-like blow.During movement of the valve operating mechanism into its valve openingposition the contact finger 58 opens to interrupt the aforedescribedener-, gizing circuit for reversin switch 81, and the,

motor is then stopped. 1 t should be noted that upon stopping of thevalvein open position the slip clutch 7 is adapted to act in the samemanner as upon closure of the valve to limit the operating force whichis transmitted from the driving motor 4 to the valve.

Assume now that the movable contact 66 of the switch mechanism'41engages contacts 67 when the valve is in open position and that the sameengages contacts 66 when the valve is in closed position. Ashereinbefore set forth, the contact 66 is moved with a snap action inopposite directions upon initial operation of the" valve operatingmechanismin opposite directions. Thus assuming that the valve is in openposition, when switch 82 responds to close the valve windings 30 and 31are momentarily connected across lines LL through the medium of thestationary contacts 66 of the switch mechanism 41 and the auxiliarycontacts 82 associated with said switch. On the other hand, when switch81 responds to open the valve'windings 30 and 31 are connected acrosslines L 'L through the medium ofthe contacts 66 of the switch mechanism41 and the auxiliary contacts 81 associated with said reversing switch.Thus the windings 30 and 31' are controlled to render the slip clutch 7capable of transmitting an increased torque during initial movement ofthe valve operating mechanism in its valve opening or closingdirections.

As before stated, signal lamps 88 and 89 are provided for indicating thedirection of operation of the motor. The lamp 88 is arranged to beconnected across lines L -L upon closure of contagt finger 58, while thelamp 89 is 7 arranged to be connected across said lines by the contactfinger 59.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: V

1. The combination with a part to be driven to a definite limit, of adrivin motor therefor, and driving connections t erebe tween including aslip clutch, and a speed re ducing gearing, said gearing being connectedto said motor through the medium of said clutch and having meansassociated therewith to. provide for'initiation of the movement of saidpart out of said limit with a hammerlike blow.

2. The combination with a part movable between given limits, of areversible driving motor therefor, and driving connections therebetweenincluding a slip clutch and a speed reducing gearing driven from saidm0- tor through the medium of said clutch, said gearing being adaptedupon reverse operations of said motor to initiate operation of said partwith a hammer-like blow.

3. The combination with a part to be driven to a definite limit, of areversible driving motor therefor, and driving connections therebetweenincluding a slip clutch and a speed reducing gearing driven from saidmotor through the medium of said clutch, said slip clutch being adaptedto normally transmit a given torque and having means associatedtherewith for rendering the same capable of transmitting an increasedtorque during initial movement of said driven part out of said limit andsaid gearing being adapted to initiate movement of said part out of saidlimit with a hammer-like blow.

4. A unitary driving mechanism for valves and the like comprising areversible driving motor, a driven member and driving connectionstherebetween including a slip clutch and a planetary speedreducing'geardriven from said motor through the me ium of said slipclutch, said gear including a gear member requiring restraint for powertransmission and a stop for said gear member, the latter having a playrelative to the former to provide for initiation of the operation ofsaid driven member with a hammer-like blow upon reverse operations ofsaid motor.

5. The combination with a part movable between given limits, of areversible driving member therefor, a speed reducing driving connectiontherebetween including cooperating friction parts adapted to slip whenthe 15 torque transmitted from said motor to said part exceeds a givenvalue, said friction parts being adapted during slippage to transmit asubstantially uniform torque, a pair of reversing switches forcontrolling said motor and control means for said reversing switchesincluding a pair of switches to beoperated from said driven part and atiming relay, one of said switches being adapted to direct- 1 controlone of said reversing switches and t e other being adapted to controlthe other of said reversing switches through the medium of said timingrelay.

6. in a valve operatin device, in combination, a valve drive shaft, adrivin motor therefor, driving connections there etween including afriction coupling and a s eed reduction gearing connected to sai motorthrou h the medium of said coupling, said coupllng including cooperatingdriving and driven friction parts adapted to slip with respect to eachother upon transmission of a given torque and ada ted during slippage totransmit a substantially uniform torque, and means associated with saidcoupling for rendering the same capable of transmitting an increasedtorque during initiation of the operation of said shaft.

7. In a valve operatin device, in combination, a valve drive sha t, adriving motor therefor, driving connections therebetween including afriction coupling and a speed reduction gearing connected to said motorI through the medium of said cou ling and shaft with a hammer-like blow,said coupling 7 havin means associated therewit to provide or initiationof the operation of said including cooperatin driving and drivenfriction parts adapte to slip with respect to each other upontransmission of a given in torque and adapted during slippage to trans-4 winding associate with sai elements for attracting the same towardseach other to provide for transmission of an increased torque.

9. The combination with a valve drive shaft, of a reversible drivingmotor therefor, drivin connections therebetween including a frictioncoupling having cooperatng driving and driven friction elements, springmeans associated with said elements for holding the same in engagementto provide for transmission of a given torque, a magnet windingassociated with said elements for attracting the same towards each otherto provide for transmission of an increased torque, and a switchmechanism associated with said drive shaft and adapted to energize saidwinding during initial operation of said driven member in oppositedirections.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

